Institute Of
Agricultural entomology/ University of Agriculture Faisalabad

Abstract
Present study was planned to utilize the indigenous organic
resources for the insect pest management of stored wheat with the
purpose to provide safe food to the end users and to make the pest
control technique environment-friendly. It will also be helpful to
avoid heavy expenses being spent on the import of pesticides. The
focus of the project was to provide a secure IPM protocol to the
farmers for the easy and organic control of stored grains insect
pests, at farm level. For this purpose, oils of Acorus calamus
(Sweet flag), Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Ricinus communis
(Castor) were applied individually and as combinations in various
concentrations @ 15-18 ml solution per sq. ft. area of the
jute/cotton bags of different densities. Infestation free wheat was
packed in respective treated bags and stored under prevailing
ambient conditions of the flourmills. Antixenotic and antibiotic
effects of the botanical oils were determined at different storage
intervals i.e. 30, 60 and 90 days against Rhizopertha dominica,
Sitophilus granarius, Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma granarium.
Statistical examination of the data regarding percent mortality and
population build up of the target insects has indicated that
different concentrations, storage periods and packing materials have
a momentous effect on the insects mortality and their penetration
into the bags. Degree of antixenosis and antibiosis has a linear
correlation with the concentration of the oils but inversely with
the storage periods. Moreover, penetration into the bags was
inversely but the mortality was directly proportional to the density
of the packing materials. It was observed that fine packing material
with 20% concentration, Neem oil conferred 90 %, sweet flag oil 94%
and castor oil 82% mortality up to one month. Afterwards a gradient
decrease in percent mortality was found in second and third months.
Whereas, mixture of three oils in 10% concentration of each
exhibited 100, 95.55, and 91.55% mortality for 30, 60 and 90 days
respectively, in cotton bags, having mesh size of 0.1 x 0.1 mm.
Farinographic studies indicated non significant differences on the
water absorption of the dough made from the respective flours of the
treatments and the control. Furthermore, sensory evaluation
established that there was no distinguishable taste or taint found
in the chapatties made from the respective flours of the treatments
and the control. It is concluded that oils of Acorus calamus,
Azadirachta indica and Ricinus communis are effective, with the
selected dosage levels, to save the stored grains from insect pests,
the food from toxic residues and the environment from chemical
pollution. Mixture of three oils in 10% concentration showed a
better performance than the rest of treatments. Therefore, packing
of the cleaned wheat in new treated bags with selected botanical
oils and proper sealing thereof can, certainly, provide better
results for the safe storage of food grains. An addition of some
appropriate IPM practices may also be a supplement for the
accomplishment of the suggested insect pests control measure.